Melt&Marble secures US self-affirmed GRAS status for fermented fat ingredient

Credit: Meat&Marble

Swedish biotech company Melt&Marble has secured self-affirmed GRAS (Generally Recognised as Safe) status for its precision-fermented fat ingredient, MeltyMarble, enabling the company to begin commercial sales in the United States.

The determination confirms the ingredient is safe for human consumption and allows Melt&Marble to supply the US food industry, opening opportunities to collaborate with manufacturers across categories including meat alternatives, dairy, confectionery and bakery.

MeltyMarble is a designer lipid created using precision fermentation. By engineering yeast to produce fats with specific characteristics, the company aims to replicate the sensory qualities of animal fats while delivering tailored functionality in food formulations.

Unlike conventional plant fats, the ingredient is structured to enhance flavour release, melting behaviour and mouthfeel, supporting creamy or juicy textures in finished products. Originally launched as “MeatyMarble”, the company has renamed the ingredient MeltyMarble to reflect its wider applications beyond alternative meat.

Regulatory milestone supports commercial ambitions

Paulo Teixeira, Head of Product at Melt&Marble, said:

Completing the extensive evaluation required for self-affirmed GRAS is a defining milestone for us.

We’ve developed this ingredient following various safety and characterisation assessments. With self-GRAS, we are well positioned to bring MeltyMarble to market for use by food brands.”

The regulatory milestone also marks a key step in Melt&Marble’s strategy to supply more sustainable fats to the food sector, offering potential alternatives to ingredients derived from animals, petrochemicals and unsustainable plant sources.

Anastasia Krivoruchko, Melt&Marble’s Co-Founder and CEO, added:

This milestone represents a significant step forward for Melt&Marble and underscores our progress across product development, regulatory readiness and scale-up.

With self-GRAS achieved, we’re well positioned to advance our food focussed pipeline and pursue a ‘no questions’ letter from the FDA for MeltyMarble, bringing us closer to delivering better and more sustainable fats to the market.”

The self-GRAS determination follows the company’s recent Series A funding and signals its transition from platform development towards its first commercial launches within the food industry.